Mariners' top draft pick signs; next stop Everett

The Seattle Mariners' top draft pick DJ Peterson (center) talks with teammates during batting practice before Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros. Peterson has been assigned to the Everett AquaSox.

The Seattle Mariners' top draft pick DJ Peterson (center) talks with teammates during batting practice before Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros. Peterson has been assigned to the Everett AquaSox.

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners signed first-round draft pick DJ Peterson on Wednesday, and the 12th pick overall told reporters he would be starting his pro career in Everett with the AquaSox.Peterson did not say when he would report to the AquaSox, who open their Northwest League season on Friday in Spokane.Peterson, a slugging third baseman out of the University of New Mexico, was one of 13 Mariner draftees who signed with the team on Wednesday. Also signing Wednesday were right-handed pitchers Emilio Pagan (10th round), Kevin McCoy (24th), Ricky Claudio (27th), Rafael Pineda (30th); left-handed pitchers Tyler Olson (7th) and Jacob Zokan (9th); infielders Jack Reinheimer (5th), Justin Seager (12th), Jeff Zimmerman (19th); and outfielders Tyler O'Neill (3rd), Corey Simpson (6th) and Chantz Mack (30th)."We are excited to get these players in uniform and to see all the young talent we recently drafted in action," said Tom McNamara, the Mariners director of amateur scouting.Seager, who's the brother of Mariners infielder Kyle Seager, along with Reinheimer and Olson will join Peterson on the AquaSox roster.With Major League Baseball's new slotting system, signing players is much a quicker process than it used to be. Peterson said his agents understood that he wanted to get his professional career started as soon as possible and didn't want a long drawn out process.Peterson took batting practice with the Mariners on Tuesday, blasting a few homers. He confirmed that he will be heading to Everett to join the AquaSox.

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